Improved Configuration and Process for Shift Conversion

The inventors discovered that a significant portion of steam in hydrogen production from syngas (and other gases with relatively high CO to H2 ratio) is utilized for temperature control in the shift reactors. Therefore, it is contemplated that the overall steam demand can be significantly lowered by splitting the feed stream in a first and second portion, wherein the first portion is fed to a first shift reactor to form a product that is then combined with the second portion prior to entering a second shift reactor.